NESTING BOXES, ETC. 55 



One most important point to wliich I would call 

 the attention of those who provide boxes and other 

 accommodation for nesting of wild birds is that 

 care should be taken early every spring to clear all 

 old nests away, as wild birds, probably from sanitary 

 reasons, seldom adopt the old nest, or at all events 

 not without pulling it to pieces and removing the 

 old material. 



I have already referred to the use made by birds 

 of these nesting-boxes for purposes of shelter and 

 roosting, and besides this I have had nesting- 

 boxes taken possession of in the spring by queen 

 wasps, which built their nests therein, and of course 

 had to be evicted in favour of the rightful occu- 

 pants. Other unusual occupants of bird boxes have 

 been Squirrels, Dormice, and Humble Bees, all of 

 which will I am sure be welcomed by the nature- 

 lover, and will afford him an unusually good 

 opportunity of observing their habits, instincts, and 

 general life history. 



Mr. Sydney Buxton, M.P., informs me that some 

 years ago his late father, Mr. Charles Buxton, M.P., 

 made an attempt to acclimatise Parrots and Cockatoos 

 in Norfolk and provided them with nesting boxes. 

 At one time the flock of these birds comprised nearly 

 fifty birds of a dozen difterent species. 



